Water-heater.



ZSHEETS-SHEET 1. I

H. S. HUMPHREY.v WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.8, 1912.

Y Patented July 23, 1912.

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WATER HEATER APPLICATION FILED FBB.8, 1912.

' Patented July 23. 1912.

A2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

ters refer to similar parts throughout the.

STATES PATENT oFnIoE.

HERBERT s. HUMPHREY, or mmazoo, momen.

' WATER-HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent Application mea February s, 1912. serial 1ro. 676,239.

To all whom it 'may concern.' Y y Be it known that I, HERBERT S.' HUM Primm, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at the city of Kalamazoo, county of Kalamazoo, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tater-Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in water heaters.

The main objects-of this invention are,-

trst, to provide an improved valve whereby the fuel supply to the heater is completely cut olf or turned on when the temperature rises above or falls below a predetermined l point; second,'to provide an Yimproved thermostat actuated valve embodyingthese advantages which is very compact in structure and not likely to getout of repair.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by thedevices and means'describedin the.

following speciicationl l.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out inthe claims. Y

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated. in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a detail side elevation of a structure embodying the features of my invention, the heater being shown inconvenseveral views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of thelittle arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, the heater 1 is shown in conventional' form as acoil heater' and is provided with burners 2. The heater casing 3 isindicated by dotted lines.

The heater coils'are connected by the' pipes 4 and 5 to the tank 6. The wateris deliv draw-off faucet 14 is provided 'for the tank.

'- The gas is delivered -to the burners -through the supply pipe 8. The delivery of th'e gas is controlled by my improved valve which is automatically operated by the ther- A mostat disposed within ,the tank 6 as illus-V trated. The thermostat illust-rated consists Patented July 23, 1,912. 1.

'ered to the tank through the pipe 7. vA

of an outer tubular member 9 and an inner member 10. The valve casing 11v is prov vided with a seat 12 'for the valve 13 andl with a cylinder 14 alined with the seat. The valve stem 15 is guided bythe guide 16 provided therefor'in the head 17 of the cyl inder 14 and by a suitable gland 18 through which the stem. projects to be engaged by the thermostat lever 19. This lever is pivoted at` 20 and is acted upon by the lever 21 which is pivoted at 22 and is in turn actuated by the thermostat rod 10. The valve 13 isslidably 'Y mounted upon the valve stem, that-is the valve stem and theA valve are movably assoment with both sto is so that a limited moveciated. Thev independent movement of the'. stem and valve is'limited by the shoulder-- like stop 23 and the stop pin 24. .When the valve is closed or seated, it is out of engage.-

mentA of' the stem 1s permitted'without-unseating the valve. f

Arranged within the cylinder 14 above the valve, is a plunger or reciprocating member 25. This member is preferably Aring-like or annular, as'illustrated. The

valve stem is arrangedto actuate this reciprocating or plunger member, the connection consisting of a pair of levers 26 which are pivoted on the ears 27 projeetinginwardly from the head or cap 17, the inner ends of the levers being arrangedv in the transverse slot 28 inthe stem so that the levers are rocked on their ivots 29 when the Stem is reciprocated.'

e outer ends of theleversv are connected to the reciprocating member 25 by `means of the links 30. Return, l springs 31 are provided for the lreciprocatj lng member, the springs being secured to the cap or head 17 and tothe member, and this through the connection described for the stem, returns the stem when the thermo. statlever 19 is retracted. Y Y i The valve is actuated through the springs 32. These springs are mounted upon supports which inthe structure illustrated are formed of telescopi'ngv sections 33 and 34, the

losv

section 33 being pivoted to the ears 35 on the reciprocating member while the sections 34 are pivoted to the ears 36 on the valve. The springs are arranged on the support to bear against the rests 37. When the valve stem is actuated by the thermostat, the reciprocating member through the connections to the valve stem,is moved toward the valve against the tension of the' return springs 3l and collapses the springs,32 until the plane of the pivots 38 connecting the spring supports to the reciprocating member passes the plane of the pivots 39 connecting the spring supports to the valve. The springs 32 then act upon the valve to open it with a snapaction. When the valvestem is released, the return springs 31 return' the reciprocating or plunger member and when the plane of the pivots 38 again passes the plane of the .pivots 39, on this return movement the springs 32 lact to close the valve With the socalled snap action. With the parts thus arranged, the valve vis fully opened or` closed. The quick or instantaneous opening and closing of the valve results in a decided saving of fuel and insures the prompt light-ing of the gas from the pilot indicated at 40, Fig. I, as when the `gas valve is opened gradually, there is a possibility of the escape of considerable gas andforming of an explosive mixture before the gas is Y ignited from the pipe.

My improved valve is very simple and compact in structure and is notlikely to get out of repair. Further, the parts are all inclosed so that they 'cannotk beV accidentally displaced or disturbed by careless Workmen 'in installing the heater, or by a person cleaning the heater. When it is considered that these heaters are very frequently used in kitchens, the advantage of this will be apparent.

While I am aware-that considerable va-` riation or modification in structural details is possible Withouty departing from my invent-ion, I have .not attempted to illustrate or vdescribe such variations or modilications as the disclosure made Will enable those skilled in the art to apply my invention as V'Aprovements specifically in the form illustrated as Well as broadly within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. The combination of a valve casing pr'ovided With a valve seat and a reciprocating member cylinder alined therewith; a valve stem; a valve slidably mounted on said stem, said stem being provided vwith stops for limiting the movement of the valve and stem relative to each other, the valve When 'closed being out of engagement .With both stops to permit a. limited movement of the valve stem Without unseating the valve; an annular reciprocating member arranged in said cylinder; levers pivotally mounted on the head of the cylinder, said valve stem being slotted to receive the inner ends ot the levers; links connecting the outer ends of the levers to said reciprocating member; ret-urn springs connected to the head of said cylinder and to lsaid reciprocating member;

spring supports pivot-ally connected to said reciprocating member and to said valve, said f supports being formed of telescoping sections; and coiled springs arranged on said supports, the support sections being provided With rests forV the spring whereby when the plane of the pivots connecting said supports to said reciprocating member Imoves past the plane of the pivots connecting member; return springs connected to the' head of said cylinder andto saidv reciprocating member; spring supports pivot-ally connected to said reciprocating member and to said valve, said supports being formed of telescoping sections; and coiled springs arranged on said supports, the support sections being provided vvith rests for the spring whereby when the plane of the pivots connecting said supports to said reciprocating member moves past the plane of the pivots connecting said supports to said valve, the said springs act on the valve to open and close the same.

3. The combination of a valve casing provided vvith a reciprocating lmember cylinder; a valve stem; a valve slidably mounted on said stem, said stem being provided with stops for limiting the movement of the valve and stem relative to each other, the valve When closed being out of engagement with both stops to permit a limited move ment of the valve stem Without opening the valve; an annular reciprocating member arranged in said cylinder; levers pivotally mounted yon the head of the cylinder, said valve stem being slotted to receive the inner ends of the levers; links connecting the outer ends of the levers to said reciprocating member; a return spring connected to the head of said cylinder and said reciprocating member; and connections for said reciproeating member and said valve comprising a i the same on the inward movement of saiii spring arranged to act on. said valve to open ing the outer ends of the levers to saidref ciprocating member; a return-spring connected to the head ofsaid cylinder and said reciprocating member; and connections for said reciprocating member -and said valve comprisinga sprlng arranged to 4act on said ,valve to open the same on the inward movement of saidreciprocating member and to close the sameon 'the outward movement jwhere y' 'the reciprocatingmember is moved thereof; I

5. The combination of a valve; a valve stem; a reciprocating member; pivotally mounted levers operatively associated with said stem; links connecting the outer ends of the levers to said reciprocating member; a return spring for said 'reciprocating member; spring supports pivotally connected to said reciprocating 4I'nember and to said valve; said 'supports being formed of telescoping sections; and coiled springs arranged on said supports, the support sections being provided with rests forthe springs whereby when the plane of the pivots connecting said supports to said reciprocating member moves past the plane of the pivots connecting said supports to said valve, the said springs act to'open and close the valve.

6. The combination of a valve;- a valve stem; .av reciprocating member; pivotally' mounted levers operatively associated with said stem;`links connecting the outer ends of the levers to s'aid reciprocating member; a return spring for said'reciprocating mem-v ber; and connections for' -said 'reciprocating member and said valve: comprising a spring arranged to act on said valveto open the same on -the inward movement of said reciprocating member and to close the same on the outward movement thereof.

7."In a vwater heater, the combination with a thermostatof a fuel valve; a valve stem with which'said valve is slidably associated; said stem-being provided with stops for limiting the movement of the valve and .stem relative to each other, the valve when seated being out of engagement with both stops to permit a` limited movement of the valve s'tem Without unseating the valve, said thermostat being arranged to actuate said valxlerstem; `a reciprocating member; operatin `connections for said valve stem toward said valve'whenthe stem actuated by said thermostat; a return spring; and a spring operativel associated with said re- 'ciprocating mem 1' and valve, andarranged toact on said valve to unseat the same when the reciprocating member is moved past a certain point of its instroke and to seat the valve on-its return stroke.

v8.1In a water `heater, the combination with a thermostat of a fuel valve; a Vvalve stem with which said valve is slidably associated; a reciprocating member; operating connections for said valve stem whereby the reciprocating member is moved toward said valve when the stem is actuated by said thermostat; a returnspring; and a spring operatively associated 'with said reciprocat-f-v i ing member and valveyand arranged to act on said valve to unseat the same when the reciprocating member is moved pasta certain point of its instroke and to seat the valve onits return stroke. L. -1

9. Ina water heater, the combination with athermostat, of a fuel XalVe; avalve stem actuated by said thermostat, said valve" stem and valve beingmovable relative to each other; a' reciprocatofry, memberl actu ated vby said valve stem; spring supports pivotally connected' to said reciprocatory member and to said valve, said supports being formed of telescoping sections; and` coiled springs arranged'on said supports to when the plane of the pivots connecting. said supportsto said val 10. The combination of a valve; a v alve stem, said valve stem and valve being. movactuate thevalve to `pen or `close the same Y supports being formedV of. 'telescoping sec- 't1ons; and coiled springs arranged on said able `relative to each other; a reciprocatory supports to actuate the valve to open or A close the same when the plane of the pivots connecting said supports to said reciprocatory member moves past the plane of the pivots connecting said supports to said valve. u

1l. In a Water heater, the combination with a thermostat,-of a fuel valve; a valve stem actuated by said'thermostat, said valve stem and valve being movable'relative to each other; a reciprocating member actuated by said valve stem; a return spring for saidreciprocating member; and connec A tionsfor said reciprocating member *and said valve comprising a spring arranged to act on said valve to open'the. same on 'the inward movement of said reciprocating member and to close the same on the outward movement thereof. v

12. .The combination of a valve; a valve stem, said valve stem'andgvalve being movi able relative to each other; a reciprocating member act-uated by said valve stem; a return spring for-said reciprocating member; and connections for said reciprocating member and said valve comprising a spring arranged to act on said valve to open the same on the inward movement of said reciprocating member and to close the same on the outward movement thereof.

. 13; In a Water heater, the. combination with a thermostat, of a valve; a valve stem actuated bysaid thermostat; a member ac-` tuated by said valve stem; and connections for said member and valve comprising a spring arranged to act on said valve to open the same and to close the same When the said member passesa certain point in its movement, said valve stem -and valve Y l being independently movable to permit the with a thermostat, of a valve; a member op# valve stem to move said member actuated thereby to its valve actuating position Without unseating the valve. Y

14. The combination of a valve; a valve stem; a member actuated by said valve stem; and connections for said member and valve comprising a spring arranged to act on said valve to open the same and to close the same when the said member passes a certain point in its movement, said valve stem and valve being independently movable to permit the valve stem to move said member actuated thereby to its valve actuating position Without unseating the valve.

15. In a -Water heater, the combination eratively associated With said thermostat and supported to reciprocate toward and from said valve; connections for said member to said valve comprising a springlsupw port formed of telescoping sections, one section being pivoted'to said member and the other to said valve; and a coiled spring arranged on said support to act on said valve whereby when the plane of the pivot connecting said support to said reciprocating member moves past the plane -of the pivot connecting said support to said valve, the

spring acts on the valve for the purpose` on said support to act on said valve wherebyv when .the plane of the pivot connecting said support to said reciprocating member moves past the plane of the pivot connecting said support to said valve, the spring acts on the valve for the purpose-specified.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and sealin the presence of two Witnesses.

HERBERT S. HUMIHREY. [L 8.] Witnesses: I

i E. L. ELLIOTT, i

C. MGHUGH. 

